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When a condition subjects the pregnant woman, the embryo, or both to a higher than normal risk, during the progression of pregnancy or puerperium (the 40-day period after birth when the woman’s body tries to recover to its previous state), then it is characterised as high-risk pregnancy.
High risk pregnancy. Considered high risk for the following reasons:
Mother
- When she is younger than 15 or older than 35 years of age
- Obesity
- History of complications during a former pregnancy (preterm labour, residual development embryo, preeclampsia, fetal death)
- Gestational hypertension
- Diabetes
- Multiple pregnancies (over five pregnancies)
- Chronic disease (autoimmune, heart disease, renal disease, asthma, sickle-cell anaemia, AIDS, etc.)
- Abnormalities of the genital tract (bicornous uterous, large fibromyomas)
- Acute abdomen surgery due to acute appendicitis, cholecystitis, obstruction of the intestine.
- Sensitivity to the Rhesus factor
- Third trimester haemorrhage
Embryo
- Viral infections (herpes, rubella, chickenpox, measles, Coxsackie virus infections)
- Bacterial or parasitic infections (toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, syphilis)
- Medicines that are harmful to the embryo
- Exposure of the embryo to addictive substances (tobacco, alcohol, recreational drugs)
- Multiple pregnancy
A detailed medical history, intensive monitoring of the progression of pregnancy and positive cooperation between the patient and the doctor, when managing a chronic condition of the pregnant woman, are essential in order for the outcome of the pregnancy to go smoothly.
